Bridle-bit



Y 7 (H0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L.S.LONGGOR.

BRIDLE BIT.

No. 279,171. Patented June 12,1883.

' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet L. S. LONGCOR;

I I BRIDLE BIT. N0 279,171. Patented June 12,1883.

To all whom it may concern/.-

' tion in rod or bar form cylindrical in section; 4

citizen of the United States, residing in the bridles for the purpose of controlling horses in animals can be handled without injury or un- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRIDL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters E-BIT.

Patent No. 279,171, dated June 12, 1883.

Application filed July 1. 1882. (No model.)

Be it known that I, LEONARD S. Lonooon, a

city of Belvidere, in the county of Boone and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bridle-Bits, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bits employed in harness, or in handling them forother purpose.

The object of this invention is to produce a bit by means of which horses may be readily brought under control, and by which gentle necessary pain. To this end I have devised and constructed the bit represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an isometrical representation of a bridle-bit embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents the bit in elevation. Fig. 3 is an isometrical representation of the side links employed to connect the bits. Fig. 4 shows my improved bit with a snaffle drivingbit, and Fig. 5 represents my improved bit with a bar driving-bit.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have employed a threepart driving-bit, being one of the usual forms of such bits, consisting of a center link, a, to which is link-jointed the outer or jaw 1inks,b, and the rein rings or links 0 are suitably linkjointed in their outer ends. At (1 are represented portions of the driving .or controlling rein of thebridle, which are joined in the end rings of the driving-bit by stitching, in the usual manner. .All of these parts are substantially the same as like parts now in general use.

At A is represented a check-bit, produced from suitable material, having its center por-v and its end portions, at e in this instance, are produced in flattened form, having its opposite sides depressed or reduced in flat bar form, producing slight shoulders at the junction of the flattened end portions with the center cylindrical portion of the bit. The outer ends of this check-bit are provided with suitable end rings or links, 72 to receive the check-rein. The axis of the bearing of these rings is preferably at right angles to the cord of the arc of the bit, or to a line connecting its extreme ment the rings supported in its end portions, when in use, will lie substantially parallel with the sides of the horses head.

At t are represented portions of the checkrein, fixed in the rings h of the check-bit, in the usual manner, by stitching. This check-rein, from its connection with the rings of the bit,is preferably carried up the face of the horse to the check-hook of the harness; but it may be employed in any of the usual or known methods.

At ,k are represented side links, produced from anyZsuitable material,in substantially the form represented in the drawings, or in other equivalent form, having their forward upper ends providedwith an elongated slot-1ike opening, 1, adapted to receive the flattened end portion of the check-bit in such a manner as to slide endwise freely thereon, and preferably in such a manner as to prevent the check-bit from turning in the slot. The lowerend portions of these side links in this instance are enlarged, and are provided with a suitable opening, m, to receive the outer link of the drivingbit in such a manner as to slide endwise thereon freely. From this construction and arrangement of the several parts of my improved bit it will be seen that in use, when the horse is moderately or properly checked, and when driving with a reasonably-slack rein, the horse will carry the bit with ease and comfort; but

when force is applied to the driving-rein it will operate to change the relative position of the parts, causing the driving-bit to bend at its central jointed connection, which action, in. connection with the curved form of the check-bit, will cause the side links to slide on the bits toward their centers,which sliding ac tion will increase, by reason of the increasing leverage, produced by the increased bending of the driving-bit, under an increased force on the driving-rein, causing the parts to approach the positions represented in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This action, even under a comparatively-moderate force exerted upon the driving-rein,will causethe side links to press the lips or checks of the horse against thejaw-bones with a force sufficient to bring the animal under subjection. In this instance I have constructed the side links with an enlargement,as at n, on their inner surface to engage the lip ends on its concave side, by which arrangeof the horse at or near the upper angle of the month. This enlargement, when employed, will reduce the bearing-surface of the link on the jaw, producing a pinching orbiting action thereon, and render the bit more efiicient.

At Fig. 4 I have represented my improvement in connection with a single jointed or two -part driving -bit consisting of the two links 0, centrally jointed in the usual manner. This application produces a bit less severe, and is designed for use on animals of a milder dis position and those having more sensitive months.

At Fig. 5 I have represented my improvement in connection with a stiff or single-piece bit, B,which is of the usual curved form. This application produces a bit less severe than that represented at Fig. 4, and is designed to be used on well-trained animals, or those having mild dispositions and very sensitive or tender mouths.

The side link, as shown at Fig. 3, is produced with open or cut sides, as represented at p, in such a manner that the links produced of malleable material may be opened to receive the check and driving bits, and may then be closed, embracing the bits in the openings in the links. By this construction oi" the side links I am enabled to apply them to bits in bridles in use without removing the bit from the bridle.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a driwing-bit provided with links capable of an endwise-sliding movement thereon, of an independently formed and operating check-bit provided with fiattened end portions which enter elongated slots in the forward end portions of the side links to permit said links to operate, and yet prevent said'check-bit from turning in the slots, substantially as described.

2. The side link for connecting the upper and lower bits, provided with the, elongated opening I and circular opening m, for the pur-.

pose, and substantially as described.

3. The side link for connecting the upper and lower bits, provided with the elongated and circular openings l and an, and with the open or cut side for adapting said link to be applied to the bits, substantially as and for the purpose described.

a. In-a bridlebit, a side link having an inner enlargement, by which the bearing-surface is reduced and the action of the bit rendered more effective, substantially as described.

XVILLIAM R. DODGE, JAMES S. TERWILLIGER. 

